O.C. BUSINESS PLUS | ORANGE COUNTY BRIEFLY

Laguna Hills Man Pleads to Copying Software

Federal authorities said Monday that an Orange County man has pleaded guilty to federal charges of making, labeling and selling counterfeit Microsoft Corp. software.

Adrian Frederick Herr, 30, of Laguna Hills admitted that he copied Microsoft products, including Windows 98 and Windows 2000, without the software giant's authorization, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Prosecutors said Herr also advertised his copies on the Internet and in the Recycler magazine and then sold the counterfeit software from his house.

Herr had been caught previously, prosecutors said, and had agreed last April to stop selling counterfeit software in exchange for avoiding prosecution. But within weeks of that agreement, they said, he began advertising and selling counterfeit products again.

Investigators estimate he sold $20,000 to $30,000 worth of counterfeit software. Herr, who pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana to two felony charges, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine at his sentencing, which is scheduled May 21 before U.S. District Judge Alicemarie H. Stotler.